PSTN
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Telecom
| Stands for | Public switched telephone network |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
PSTN stands for Public switched telephone network, a telecom abbreviation.
Worldwide network of traditional telephone lines, exchanges and links that carries landline calls using circuit switching, connecting every phone number in the global numbering plan.
Example: The office moved its phones to VoIP but kept one PSTN line for the fax and the elevator alarm.
Usage notes
The PSTN grew from manual switchboards to digital exchanges over the 20th century and is now being replaced by IP networks. In the UK, Openreach and BT are retiring the analog PSTN, with the switch-off scheduled for completion by January 2027. Alarm systems, telecare devices and payment terminals that depend on analog lines need upgrading.
Related abbreviations
More telecom abbreviations
- ONT – Optical network terminal
- OTT – Over-the-top
- PAYG – Pay as you go
- PBX – Private branch exchange
- PON – Passive optical network
- POTS – Plain old telephone service
- PTT – Push-to-talk
- PUK – PIN Unblocking Key
- QAM – Quadrature amplitude modulation
- RAN – Radio access network
- RCS – Rich Communication Services
- RF – Radio frequency